Wichita eagle., 1887-05-17
DEATH OF TIMOTHY COOP
The Venerable Philanthropist Of Three Score
Years and Ten.

the circumstances surrounding and the
incentive to his visit to Wichita, our readers
are already aware The personal friend OF
the immortal Garfield, became to assist with
his loving counsel and abundant means the
building of monument to him who was at
once his dear friend and Americas beloved
patriot and stateman.
1 Some three weeks ago Mr.. Coop returned
from Winfield feeling slightly unwell, but
still he kept about, looking after the affair:
of the university and his property over
there. DIR. johnson. his physician, assisted
by Drs. Carpenter and Whitlock, did all that
lay in their skill.
He was unconscious from Friday evening
to within ten minutes of his death when be
aroused from his stupor and his eyes opened
wide and were fixed heavenward, and he
gazed as if upon some object of intense
interest and of a joyous nature. His lips
moved without giving forth any articulate
sound, and precisely at o'clock he ceased'to
breathe.
From Mr. James Marsden, his son-in-law
and partner in business, who, in answer to a
telegram, arrived in this city yesterday a
week ago, who had expected with his daugh-
ter to accompany Mr. Coop through the
mountains of the west this summer, we
| gather the following facts:
Mr.. Coop was born in the parish Of West
houghton. county of Lancashire, England, in
the year 1907. and had he lived until the 2Sth
Of this month would have completed his 10th
| year. From there he went to Bolton as an
apprentice in the clothing business, and at
| the age of 10 was sent to open branch es-
Establishment in the neighboriDg town of
| Wigan, midway between Manchester and
Liverpool. Several years afterwards he be-
came partner in the business, which was
then carried on under. the style Of Achroyd
& Coop.
Mr.. Ackroyd died in the year 1854, and
Mr.. Coop was left sole owner Of the establish
ment, In the year 1864 the manufacture of
clothing for the wholesale trade was COM
menced and rapidly developed into ore of the
most extensive business enterprises of the
kind in England. From this time Mr.. Mars
den, Mr.. Coop's son-in-law, became part
ner, and the style of the firm was changed to
Coop &, Co. A few years afterwards Messrs
Joe and Frank Coop, sons of Mr. Coop were
aiken into the business. The finn has also
bee engaged in coal mining and cotton
spinning.
Mr.. Coop's remarkable long-sighted saga
city and capacity for business gave him
prominent position in every sphere in which
he moved, and he was often solicit
ed to enter public and political
life, but his preferences have always
been to devote his thoughts, mind and ener-
gies to religious work. He was brought up
from childhood in connection with the old
Wesleyan body. About the year 1S41 he
heard discourses by the late Mr.. VIM. Haigh,
of Huddersfield, England, which convinced
him of his duty to be immersed upon con-
fession Of his faith in the Lord Jesus Christ,
and he thereupon became associated with the
plea advocated by the Christian church in
this country. Immediately he began to
preach the new truths he learned and estab-
ished church of Christ in Wigan: now a
strong church and from which many others
have sprung up in the surrounding country.
Near the year 1868 he was Obliged on account
of Mrs. Coops health, to remove to South
port salubrious watering place, situated
some seventeen miles from Wigan, and there
he estab. ished another church which soon
grew to be of considerable influence for good
in the place.
Mr.. Coop's first visit to the United States
was in the year 1867, when he Travelled over
a considerable portion of the country, and
was so impressed with its facilities for bust
ness that he desired at the time to transfer
their English business to this country, but as
a successful business was already established
in England his partner preferred the already
assured business prospects in the old country
to entering upon new enterprises.
From that first visit, however, he became
greatly interested in the religious work of
the Christian church in America.
and spent much of his energy to
aid that work. His admiration for the late
president, Garfield, with whom he had some
personal acquaintance, combined with his
active interest in the work which the univer-
sity was to serve was the sole incentive to
he came here-a few months ago-he has
taken very deep interest in the Garfield
University. Always ready with his practi-
cal experience and means to lend it any aid
needed. Though he had so keen and sharp
an appetite and great capacity for business,
he has never been tempted into any kind of
enterprise here until the desire to help build |
up the university induced him to purchase |
large number of the lots they have
to dispose of to furnish funds |
for the building. So great was
he wrapped up in the institution that after
he was compelled to remain in the house he
would lie as long as his strength would per- |
NIT upon a sofa placed in front of window. |
where he could look out upon the men at |
work on the building.
Mr.. Coop was married three times. He |
had issue by the first wife of one daughter,
Mrs Marsden, and by the second wife two
sons, Messrs. Joe and Frank. Mrs Marsden
and daughter and Mr.. Fred Candy, Mrs. |
Coops son, are the only members of the FAM
lily in this part Of the country excepting Mrs.
Coop
The remains were embalmed by Funeral
Director kendle. and are lying in state at the
The family will leave for Cincin-
natl tomorrow evening with the remains
The funeral services of Mr. 7. Coop viii
take place from the Christian church, cor,
Of ID and Market streets, at 7p. M Ad-
dresses will be made by DR.. Everest, Chan
cellor Of Garfield University, Prof. A. 1.
Hnhhs u Of tho Hniorical C,ll.r-. u